Only 22 birds were left in the wild in 1982. They were all captured as part of a breeding program. Now more than 500 live in the wild

I’ll tell you the beginning and the end of the story first because they have nothing to do with California condors and everything to do with them. My first sighting of condors was on a cloudless day in January 1995. We were travelling from Apartaderos to Timotes in Venezuela along the spine of the Andes.…

Death Valley National Park is all about extremes, in more ways than one

Sans reservation, we arrived at Furnace Creek Campground, 268 feet below sea level. The park ranger informed us unequivocally that the campground was FULL. ‘You’ll have to turn around.’ Feigning a U-turn, I drove in - and immediately found a vacant, primo spot. I sauntered back to the entrance booth and slapped down my 22…

You can have lots of fun at flea markets around the world while learning something about that country's culture at the same time

One of the world's largest flea markets is in San Jose, California. It has more than 2,000 booths and sprawls over 40 acres. In all, 12.8 km (eight miles) of booth-lined walkways with arts, crafts, jewellery, antiques and junk! Lots of junk. The old saying "One man's trash is another man's treasure" tells you something…

Leave it the ever-creative and health-and-relaxation-seeking La La Landers to come up with a kind of wacky way to get your fitness glow on. The Shape House has set up its hot and happening “urban sweat lodge” in West Hollywood (there are also outlets in New York and Los Angeles) for the sweltering 55-minute experience…

Generosity of spirit and genuine kindness – it seems so simple but it also seems so essential to peace around the world

Barbara Bush once said, “Never lose sight of the fact that the most important yardstick of your success will be how you treat other people – your family, friends and coworkers, and even strangers you meet along the way.” I’d love to share a story about how this played out for my husband and I…

Plus Canmore caving adventures, California dreaming, and flight deals for April and May

More Canadians frustrated with long wait times for elective surgeries are willing to leave the country and pay out of their own pockets for procedures and treatments. A 2017 report by the Fraser Institute reveals that more than 63,000 Canadians in 2016 elected to have non-emergency surgeries in a foreign country. Janet Bristeir, author of…